Faith became reality for Janice Conner Spreen as she left this earthly life May 15, 2024, in Richmond, Texas.

Janice was born on May 21, 1932, to Robert and Lois Conner. The growing family lived in the various central and Hill country towns of Coleman, Whon, Winters, Mason, Junction, Ballinger and finally Menard. Janice, a 1950 graduate of Ballinger High School and the December 1st, 1951 bride of Alvin Spreen, stayed behind making Ballinger home until 2013 when she moved closer to her siblings and children.

Like many others born during the depression, Janice watched her industrious parents follow scarce jobs, stretch limited funds, and develop creative skills. She honed her own talents: designing and fabricating custom draperies and décor; creating a variety of costumes for ballerinas, school twirlers, and Barbie dolls; sewing clothing for children, adults, and wedding gowns for many local brides; teaching children and adult Bible classes; decorating homes; creating store displays; feeding scores of hungry cowhands; and participating in various civic and church groups.

Those clubs and groups include lifetime membership at Ballinger’s First Baptist Church while serving in multiple positions there, Ballinger Rodeo Auxiliary Association, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Beta Sigma Phi, Ballinger Bicentennial Planning Committee, the inaugural Ethic Festival committee, Carnegie Library Restoration Committee and Library Board. It wasn’t all work for Janice, there was a great deal of fun: couples 42 (domino) club, couples and ladies bridge clubs, ladies Mahjong group, china painting, camping on the river, and always hosting parties and holiday dinners.

Janice outlived many of those dearest to her: husband Alvin, parents Robert and Lois Conner, Spreen family members, and treasured friends - Betty and Ben Parrish and Dorothy Dankworth.

Keeping Janice (and Alvin) beloved in their memories are their children Gay Ann (James) Fuller, Robb Spreen; grandchildren Kathrin (Ryan) Yokubaitis, Madeleine (Colt) Adams, John (Tasha) Fuller; greatgrandchildren: Addison Fuller, Marie, Audrey and Fuller Yokubaitis, Caden and Sofie Fuller, and baby Adams; siblings Adelaide Weber, Lynn Conner, Charles (Shirley) Conner, Gene (Sharon) Conner; sisters-in-law Julia Spreen and Joyce Lee Spreen; several cousins including D. Joyce Spreen and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. June 3rd at First Baptist Church, Ballinger, Texas, with Marty Akins and longtime friend and Pastor Emeritus Ferris Akins officiating. Honorary pall bearers are her grandsons John Fuller, Ryan Yokubaitis, Colt Adams, along with Tommy and Greg Parrish.

The family is grateful for the care given Janice by the staffs of Clayton Oaks Living Center of Richmond, Texas and Allstar Hospice of Sugar Land, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations such as to Ballinger Carnegie Library or Ballinger First Baptist Church, and more importantly your remembrance of her through acts of kindness and service to family, friends, and those in need.

Mary Lou Sublett, 94, of Lubbock, passed away on May 26, 2024, at home surrounded by her family.

Mary was born on November 3, 1929, to William and Alta Wilson in Shamrock, Texas. She attended school in Shamrock, graduating from Shamrock High in 1948. Mary raised three children, first in Shamrock, then Quitaque, and then Bronte. She was a talented homemaker, always finding ways to make ends meet during challenging times.

In Shamrock, Mary volunteered at her church as a Sunbeam Missions teacher and as the chairperson for the Women’s Missionary Union. She was a Cub Scout leader, and always found a way to be at every ballgame, concert or play. We could always count on Mom being in the crowd.

After moving to Bronte, Mary was a charter member of the East Coke County Ambulance Service and volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician for many years. She also volunteered at her church leading bible study for the preschool children. Mary was a loving and dedicated caregiver for her parents in their later years. She served as the activity director for Bronte Nursing Home and later for Canterbury Villa Nursing Home in Ballinger. Mary loved her friends living at these facilities and dedicated herself to enriching their lives.

She moved to Rowena to be near her church, St. Boniface Catholic Church and the love of her life Alton Fisher. Mary was blessed to have Alton in her life. Mary and Alton had 19 years together, taking care of each other, dancing, and playing dominoes. In her heart, Alton will always be, “My Shotsie”. Mary was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and of the Christian Mothers and Altar Society. She retired from the Shoppin Baskit Grocery in Ballinger.

After Alton’s passing in 2013, Mary moved to Lubbock to be close to her family. Becky and Kelly Garrett along with the Gray’s and Wilson’s provided love and caring for the last ten years, filling her life with the sounds of babies and toddlers and teenagers. Mary loved being “Grandma”.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Willie Wilson and a very special aunt, Mary Darling Woollard.

Mary is survived by her daughter Becky and husband Kelly of Lubbock; two sons, Paul and his wife Penny of Miami, and Stephen of Pensacola, FL; grandchildren Clifton Sublett and Dawn of Hydro, Oklahoma, Jeremy Sublett and Angie of Yukon, Oklahoma, Becca Gray and husband Jerrad of Lubbock, Drew Wilson and wife Sarah of Lubbock, Johnie Sublett of Seattle and Jennifer Sublett and fiancé Cy Johnson of Seattle; great-grandchildren Shelby Seurer, Ashly Province, Kortny Bray, Casady, Emily, Jacob and Hunter Sublett,

Brie, Wilson, Jeremiah and Beklynn Gray, and Austin Wilson; seven great great grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews.

The family expresses sincere thanks to the wonderful staff at Hospice of Lubbock for their compassion and care.

A meal will be held at 11:30 a.m., on Friday, May 31, 2024, at St. Boniface Hall in Olfen, Texas, preceding the service for everyone who would like to join the family. A rosary will be held the same day at 1:30 p.m., at St Boniface Catholic Church with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 2:00 p.m. with Father Ariel Lagunilla celebrating. Her interment will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Rowena, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Daughters of the Americas

Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Jane Cook 85 FM 1678, Ballinger TX, 76821 in Mary Lou’s honor.